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Printed letters, Aug. 9, 2011

The recent deficit fiasco is, simply put, a manifestation of the huge divide in American politics today. As a committed centrist, the weeks of finger-pointing between the parties sickened me. It illustrates how broken our system is.

Apparently, today’s politicos have forgotten that compromise, not power-mongering, is the strength of our democracy. The concept of compromise seems to be forgotten these days. Instead, everything is driven with one eye toward the next election.

Make no mistake, both parties must share in the blame for our astronomical deficit. Argue about the details if you wish, but the last period resembling fiscal sanity in this country ended 11 years ago. The Bush Era got us rolling in the wrong direction, and the Obama Era has accelerated it.

Stubbornness in the White House, combined with a faction of ideologues in the House, brought us to stalemate. Both sides have made concessions, but the onus is now on the hard-right tea partiers to realize that you can’t have your cake and eat it, too.

End this power struggle and show the world that our system isn’t broken beyond repair.

STEVE CUNNINGHAM

Grand Junction

Scott Tipton is breath of fresh air

This letter is to support how Congressman Scott Tipton has handled the debate on the debt ceiling. Tipton has shown a level head throughout this process, and although I was unable to take part, I know he held a town hall meeting by telephone so he could hear from his constituents on this issue.

This is a breath of fresh air, as his predecessor was not accessible, and friends in my community often complained they didn’t feel like their voices were being heard.

Tipton was correct when he recently stated we need to “get our budget back on track with real debt and spending reduction.” Those goals are in line with the majority of the American people. I know in my family we can’t spend more money than we have in the bank.

I’m proud to have a congressman who is fighting for us and representing our interests rather than his own.

KIMBERLY BOREN

Grand Junction

The tea party is not good for government

I watched the recent debt-ceiling negotiations closely and one thing is clear. The tea party Republicans like Rep. Scott Tipton have failed. Rather than doing what was best for America and our difficult economy, their goal was to cause a default and destroy the federal government as we know it.

It was clear that, not only do they dislike government, they believe anarchy is preferable. I can hardly wait for the elections in 2012.

Now that Tipton has shown his true goals, I believe we can elect Sal Pace to give us the representation we deserve.

RICHARD MOYER

Pueblo

All politicians involved in deal should be ashamed

After having witnessed the fiasco for the past months concerning the national debt and deficit spending argument, I, and probably most other Americans, am completely fed up with the politics and politicians involved with the whole process.

My wife and I live off our Social Security, plus a very small pension, and I served my country in the United States Marine Corps. But after this latest show by our elected officials, I am completely ashamed of what our country has turned into.

I think every politician who is supposedly serving, and I do not care what party they are with, needs to hang his or her head in shame and be made to go on national television and apologize to each and every person in America for putting all of us through this show of political posturing just to gain their 15 minutes of fame.

JAMES OWEN

Fruita

Where is the pride in CMU sports teams?

Where is the local pride for Colorado Mesa University athletics?

Every year I go into area stores and see all kinds apparel and knick-knacky souvenirs for CU and CSU — two schools on the Front Range, as well as the local high school sports teams, but not our local university.

CMU athletics are poorly attended by the community, even though many of the players are local young men and women. Why? Where is the pride and community school spirit?

I understand CMU is only a Division II institution, and as such, does not carry the national prestige of Division I. But so what? That’s all the more reason to support CMU.

This is our local school. It is a part of our local economy. This is our local kids’ university. So go to the games. Cheer on our athletes. Be a part of the action. Go Mavericks!